Addressing the current unsustainability of socio-ecological-technological systems is urgently required. Unsustainability has been associated with anthropocentric cultures human societies that focus on their own needs while ignoring and belittling other species natural systems. Design, including collaborative participatory design (C&PD), one multiple ways through which humans build solutions to ...

Most protagonists of sustainable development ignore modern insights in the nature of technology, which has led to an emphasis on technological solutions. The notable exception is transition management. However, both social construction of technology and transition management have been criticized as ignoring distributions of power in society, and for not offering guidance in the choice of the mo...

Over the last few decades the apparent effects of the ecological unsustainability of current global regimes of production has become more pressing. Recent calculations by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) indicated that, at current levels of consumption of renewable natural resources, by the year 2050 we will require at least a second whole planet earth to meet global needs. The implication o...

In this opinion paper, I argue that “optimization and sustainable development” indicates a set of specific engineering techniques rather than a unified discipline stemming from a unique scientific principle. On the other hand, I also propose a mathematical principle underlying at least some of the concepts defining sustainability when optimizing a supply chain. The principle is based on the fac...

This article reflects on the recent unsustainable land use changes in the Autonomous Community of Madrid and asserts the need for progress towards economically, environmentally and socially sustainable development models. Following research undertaken over the last six years there are encouraging signs of agreement between stakeholders and the problem has begun to “open up”. Here a new phase of...

34 Spring 1999 his article looks at the grosser absurdities and paradoxes of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The unsustainability of the CAP over the long run is well-appreciated in Western Europe but, hitherto, the emphasis has been on containing a cost that rich countries could afford. The projected eastward expansion of the European Union (EU), however, means that policies of cost cont...